Qualitative research in higher education
A qualitative course for PhD students within higher education
Main content
The course introduces doctoral students to qualitative research methodology and aims to promote knowledge of qualitative research to generate in-depth inquiry in the field of (higher) education. The course also emphasizes relevant theories, methods, and research practices to develop skills and knowledge to engage in qualitative inquiry. The course includes a critical reading of suggested resources to prepare for in-depth theoretical discussions about qualitative research, qualitative research topics, qualitative designs, data collection strategies and approaches to data analysis. To this end, the students identify and elaborate on different approaches within qualitative designs and develop qualitative research skills described in the course content through step-by-step, hands-on, and interactive activities. The course will also help develop individual and collaborative qualitative research skills, thus enhancing the ability to create practical as well as theoretical knowledge.听
Knowledge
By the end of the course, the student will be able to:
- Identify major approaches to qualitative research in education.
- Compare and contrast fundamental theories that underpin research paradigms.
- Explain the principles that guide the use of qualitative research methods.
- Justify qualitative research processes based on their robustness and rigor.
Skills
By the end of the course, the student will be able to:
- Formulate and design research topics for a detailed investigation of phenomena.
- Develop research questions using qualitative methods.
- Implement procedures related to research design, participant selection, and context.
- Collect and analyze data from various qualitative methods.
- Synthesize and integrate data from multiple sources.
- Compose individual or collaborative qualitative research reports.
- Plan, conduct, and assess qualitative research as part of professional development.
Competence
By the end of the course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of key terms and contemporary issues in qualitative research within higher education, such as reflexivity, voice, authority, representation, credibility, trustworthiness, and ethics.
- Apply a critical lens to address educational issues through qualitative inquiry.
- Interpret data to inform educational practices.
- Evaluate address the challenges associated with qualitative research methods.
听